I’m often asked what items do I need to start crafting. And, of course, part of that answer is what are your plans for your crafting? If you’re going to make cards and/or scrapbooks I have a starting list for you below. But many of the items are universal crafting items as well. Below I’ll list the items I like and use along with the item # for US purchases from Stampin’ Up! and why you need the tool or why I suggest it.

Paper Snips – 103579 – Paper Snips are a staple tool for expert cutting even in small areas. The precision-ground stainless steel tips cut cleanly all the way to the end of the blades. I use mine every day for ribbon (I even have a 2nd one strictly for ribbon), and cutting what we call “fussy cutting” meaning we cut out little paper objects.

Paper Trimmer – 152392 – Cut and score paper for card making, scrapbooking, and other paper crafts with our durable, and portable Paper Trimmer. The extra-wide 7-3/4″ cutting base is extendable 17″ ruler accommodate large paper projects. The base of the paper trimmer includes both imperial and metric measurements, and the base has a midpoint ruler for small paper projects. The ruler and paper restraint snap into place for easy transport. A durable plastic cover protects the ruler and grid so measurements won’t wear off.

One of my favorite things about our Paper Trimmer is that it cuts and scores! I’ve seen many crafter videos where they have to have 2 tools, one for cutting and one for scoring. Ugh! The trimmer is light weight so it travels well, too. Going to a craft along or traveling and want your trimmer, no problem.

Take Your Pick Tool – 144107 – Multipurpose pickup and precision tool simplifies meticulous tasks. Tacky putty end easily picks up sequins, paper accents, and other small objects; twist to dispense more putty. The other end has 2 changeable, double-ended tips with paper piercer, mini spatula, small stylus, and large stylus. Plus the attachments (also shown below) which can be used for cutting or piercing (161602) and the brush tip (149655) for cleaning cuts from dies.

Stampin’ Dimensionals – 104430 – Double-sided adhesive foam dots add depth and dimension. Great for heavier embellishments, too. Instant bond. Acid free. Stampin’ Dimensionals®: 300 pieces, 3/8″. On cards and in scrapbooks giving your layout dimension makes it more interesting, gives shadows and depth. Also available are mini dimensionals (144108) and black dimensionals (150893) in both sizes.

Stampin’ Seal – 152813 – Instant-bond, double sided permanent adhesive. Holds cardstock and ribbon. Acid free. Also, available is the Stampin’ Seal+ (149699) which is stronger than the normal Seal.

Usually a crafter will have a favorite adhesive, most of the time it’s either Seal or the Multipurpose Liquid Glue (110755). Personally I use both depending on what I’m doing. If it seems I might need room to move the item I use the “green glue” so once you’ve laid it down on the other layer you can adjust the placement if needed. It’s not green but the bottle is. It dries clear.

Glue Dots – 103683 – Instant dots of adhesive. No fumes, no mess, no drying time. Holds heavier embellishments, ribbon, cardstock, and detailed die cuts. Glue dots work nicely for small things especially like ribbon or embellishments in my opinion.

Silicone Craft Sheet – 127853 – Easily assemble embellishments, with our silicone craft mat–just put a dot of adhesive on the sheet and use both hands to assemble the embellishment, then pop it off the sheet when the glue is dry. Additionally, use it to stamp in reverse, if your stamp faces right but you want it to face left use the silicone mat. Stamp directly on the malt and then pick up on your cardstock. Voila a reverse stamp. OR suppose you’ve put your adhesive on a layer of your card but then realize you aren’t ready to attach it. Lay it on the silicone mat adhesive down, work on the layer till you’re ready then turn it over and attach it.

Tear & Tape Adhesive – 154031 – This Tear & Tape Adhesive will have you ready to adhere with ease. The strong, acid-free adhesive is perfect for multiple uses; it can be torn to fit just the right size. Tear off the size you need, place the adhesive, then remove the backing sheet and you’re ready to stick with it! My favorite feature is that you can tear it to size, attach to your piece, but not tear off the 2nd side for as long as you need to wait. Maybe you’re creating a bunch of layers but need to wait till everything is ready before attaching.

Stampin’ Glass Mat Studio – 163987 – The Stampin’ Glass Mat Studio is a paper crafter’s dream! The heavy-duty glass mat comes printed with a ruler and grid lines for easy measuring, while the large surface space gives ample room for spreading out while paper crafting. The safety-tempered glass has a heat and scratch resistant surface that wipes clean with the included cloth and water—no chemicals needed. The reusable cloth also cleans ink off your stamps! The nonslip, heat resistant, waterproof silicone mat features four palette squares for mixing custom ink colors or for holding small ink spots in place while crafting. Each component can be used separately or you can use all three items together for a multipurpose paper crafting studio that’s both functional and elegant.

Simply Shammy – 147042 – This reusable stamp cleaning cloth makes stamp cleaning effortless. Just add water, then wipe stamps on the shammy. Durable, thick lint-free shammy easily cleans ink from narrow grooves. (Ink will stain shammy but won’t transfer to your fingers or other stamps.) With its portable 5″ x 7″ size it fits neatly in a stamp case. The Stamp Case comes in sets of 4 (119105).

Clear Block Bundle – 165674 – Use our high-quality, reusable acrylic blocks for all of your cling rubber stamps and photopolymer clear stamps. Stamp blocks are grooved for easy gripping and clear so you can see right where you’re stamping. Temporarily mount stamps on clear blocks for stamping, then remove for storage. Save 10% on this clear block bundle that includes all of our block sizes, so you’ll always have the block you need on hand. Individual blocks can be purchased and if so I’d advise getting the most used block, the D block is 118485.

Stamping Inks – I’m not listing an item number per se because we have 50 colors plus black and VersaMark which is great for heat embossing. Were I suggest an ink to start with, I’d suggest the Memento Tuxedo Black Ink (132708) because every crafter needs a go-to black ink. After that I’d get at least 2 or 3 colors. Maybe you’d want a red, a blue, a green, maybe a blue. Then along with that I’d get the matching color of cardstock.

Basic White Cardstock – 159276 – Our Basic White 8-1/2″ x 11″ Cardstock is great for handmade cards and other paper crafts. This classic, heavyweight cardstock is high quality, acid free, and lignin free, making it a favorite scrapbook paper, too. Plus, our Basic Black Cardstock (121045) is an essential.

Additionally, you’ll want a stamp set. Here’s a great sentiment set, With You In Mind (164747) but there are many other options. Look through the ones available and see what appeals to you. You might also like to watch YouTube videos or check out Pinterest to find some you really like.

Medium Envelopes – 159236 – Provide the perfect finishing touch for your cards. Fits standard 5-1/2″ x 4-1/4″ cards.

So, all that is a place to start. What do you want or need. You may already have a paper trimmer or paper snips (at least one pair should be a smallish one). Maybe you already have a good adhesive; however, I strongly advise against school glues like Elmers – they’ve got too much water and will buckle your cardstock and most stick glues just won’t hold. If you have a glue like Art Glitter Glue though that will work very nicely.

All of this sounds like a lot but if you get what you can as you can and start where you are and with what you have you can make some beautiful cards or scrapbook pages. Don’t wait till you have it all. Start now with what you have. At its most basic you’d want white cardstock, a trimmer, a black ink pad, a stamp set, a block and envelopes.

Feel free to let me know if you need help. If you need more suggestions.

The WAIT is OVER!! Can you believe we have so, so many new products…packed with fresh inspiration and creative possibilities!! Wow, it’s an exciting time and there are so many great new things to see and explore!! What do you want to add to YOUR stash. The launch of a new catalog or catalogs is always an exciting time!  Each catalog is packed full of inspiration and fun NEW products!  

Sale-a-Bration – This is our once-a-year event lasting two months, January and February which means you earn a FREE product (stamps, dies, ribbon, embellishments, or DSP – Designer Series Paper) for every $60 or $120 purchased in the USA and there’s no limit to how many items you can earn…whoot!

JOIN Special – There’s never been a better time to join…You can choose $125 worth of product from ANY catalog or online and pay only $99 PLUS get FREE shipping!! Then there are TWO, additional options this year. Either choose to get an additional $30 in FREE product OR get the Handmade Designs stamp set (shown below) along with your choice of two sets of Stampin’ Write Markers (color collections – Brights, Neutrals, Regals, or Subtles). If you have any questions feel free to get in touch!
Click HERE to get started!

Scrapbooking Brochure – CTMH (Close to My Heart) has joined with Stampin’ UP and we now offer new branding for many items. We’ve tried to get things out to everyone as soon as we could so do not have a physical catalog yet. Here’s a link to the new digital catalog and OH MY!! We have some amazing scrapbooking layout kits which include 3 2-page spreads in each kit for a total of 6 pages. Additionally, there are stamp sets that coordinate plus two-tone 12×12 cardstock and DSP that perfectly work together.

New Mini January to April Catalog – If you don’t have a physical copy of the new Mini and don’t already have a demonstrator, I’d love to get one to you. Use the link on the sidebar to the right or scroll all the way down if you’re on your phone for the link.

OnLine Exclusives – We simply do not have room and products can be more fluid, coming in and out of the line if they are not in a printed brochure so…online exclusives. What this does mean is that they can go out of stock and may and may not come back so if you really, really want something it might be time to get it while you can. On my shopping link go to SHOP NOW, click on MENU and select Online Exclusives.

Kits – We have two ways to get KITS (All-inclusive kits – you could get a pair of snips and a bone-folder but not essential). One type of kit is the Paper Pumpkin which is a subscription kit that comes direct to your mailbox once a month. You won’t know exactly what it’s going to be but it’s fun and always different. Paper Pumpkin must be ordered by the 10th of the month in which you want the kit.

The second kind of KITS are also all-inclusive but you know exactly what you’re getting, there’s no deadline and you can order any available kit anytime. Again, you might like a pair of paper snips and a bone-folder. Every month two or three new kits are released but there are several other options in stock, too. Sometimes the kits are 3-D projects, sometimes cards, sometimes notebooks/travel journal or birthday reminders like the Perpetual Beauty Calendar or the Card Keeper Kit. Below is a glimpse of the 3 new kits this month.

So, how fun is all that and I’ve just barely shown you all the ways to find stuff! In addition, we’ve got a fun SCAVENGER HUNT over on our Facebook page. Find the answers, message me and I’ll have a drawing for everyone who answers and finds the things in the scavenger hunt for a free stamp set or set of cards, your choice.